Thursday, September 17, 2009

Fall Fashions

Welcome to this year's fall fashion preview as tied by me. You'll note the colors are subtle, earthy and the fabrics are applied with a sparseness that mimics the changing landscape. As for the styles, they are carefully chosen to provide silhouettes that not only a tier can love, but that can entice even the most selective trout................I prefer selectively opportunistic, but we can go with the standard nomenclature.

First off the vise is the Antbeetle. A small, black foam version with moose body hair legs and a smidgen of light CDC for a hat - the better to see it in fall's low-light conditions.

Next up is the CDC Blue-winged Olive Emerger. Again, this one is small, tiny even, to mimic the late season mayflies that hatch daily from the smooth glides found on our trout waters. Note the segmented body made with McLean's Quill Body. Although the model is trying its best to give you a full view, the photo lacks the dark color found in the vise and on the stream. Note to self, find better lighting provisions to allow for more accurate contrast and brightness..........

Next up, Lenny's BWO Emerger. This one strikes a straight figure, however, many tyers (including Lenny himself) prefer curved shanked versions. The primary colors and texture are achieved with pheasnt tai fibers and copper ribbing, topped with a dark olive bead and wing of dark dun antron. It's a beauty that turns heads on every river and stream it drifts through on the end of a tippet.

Taking a bow next is the Peach Sulphur. This one imitates a small, late season mayfly that is found on many Eastern trout streams. This one is also tied with McLean's Quill Body material topped by a simple CDC wing and sparkling antron train.

An Elk hair October Caddis is next up. This is the traditional version perferred by most adult caddis tiers and fishermen. It's big, a size #8 and 10 - a mouthful by any standards.

And then their is my version of the October Caddis. Here again, the photographer needs to go! The colors although appropriately subtle, lack the true orange colors of the original as tied and set in the vise at the time of creation. It is tied with an orange beaver dubbing abdomen with an underwing of amber antron topped by orange/brown dyed elk hair. The thorax is a soft brown gray hare's ear dubbing. Autumn dazed trout go crazy for this thing when the naturals are on the water.

And finally, my fall favorite - the Leadwing Coachman wet fly. When the fish are not looking up, this ubiquitous pattern is an effective trout taker when fished either dead-drift, or on the swing. Tie some up and give them a whirl in the drink, and you won't be disappointed.